User Reviews

Weaknesses: Heavy, but this is a daily commuter / singletrack cross bike, not a racer.

Bottom Line:

This was my first build, all cobbled together online. I am very happy with the Soma Double Cross. It took a couple of rides to dial in, but since building / putting on the road Thanksgiving 2012, I've ridden it 6,000 miles and 300,000 feet of climbing (to include multiple Mount Diablo / Mount Tam rides).

"Viola" will climb as fast as you can (I'm not fast) and due to sheer mass (probably weighs in around 25lbs), descends just as fast as any roadie I've chased / passed. Switchback descents are especially fun, and the $ 25 Genetic mini-v brake set stops with confidence even at 40mph+ (if you ride mindfully).

I highly recommend this frame for riders who want a stable all-purpose bike. Components are especially important, and the mileage in this case proves their compatibility and durability.

Bike Setup: Shimano Ulterga/105 cockpit, Mavic Aksium wheelset, and various new and used parts.

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by
Dean
a Road Racer

Date Reviewed: September 14, 2011

Strengths: The geometry is super stable, both on road and on dirt. I have a wheelset for each application. 700X23 for road and 700X38 for dirt.

I take my Doublecross on mountain biking trails and it handles great even when descending steep switchbacks. It climbs with ease, provided that you have the gear range for it.

On road, the geometry is on the sluggish side. It rides kind of like a rando bike, not snappy like a race frame and not too slow like a fatty touring frame. Its just right.

The frame is flexible as hell. It has rack mounts for the rear. If you get the matching fork, it has mounts for front racks as well. As aforementioned, its kind of like a Rando bike you an go mountain biking with.

It is also very affordable. Tange Prestige is a whole lot nicer than a generic 4130 tubing.

Weaknesses: Heavy rear end. Overall, still a tad bit porky, my racer weighed in at 22 lbs with WTB 700X32 All-Terrainasaurus tires. I got it down to 21 lbs with IRD Cross tires

Bottom Line:

This review is for the canti version

Last winter, I decided to race cyclocross for fun. I had a Surly CrossCheck but I came to conclusion that it was too porky for racing.So I decided to get a Soma DoubleCross because it had a nicer tubing and it was a half a pound lighter than the Surly. I put on a carbon fork on the Soma for more weight savings.

I switched frames from Surly to Soma and the weight savings was almost a pound and a half, ceteris paribus aside from the fork. The geometry is definitely different. The Doublecross has a longer top-tube and head tube.

It is currently my favorite bike, logging in more hours than my lighter Specialized Roubaix. Steel feels more lively and comfortable.

Strengths: Good all around, do anything bike. I like steel durability and economy. I especially like Tange tubing, light, comfy, great handling. I like Soma designs, versatile, simple, functional.

Weaknesses: The drive side chainstay, dropout weld split after 5 years 3 months. Was going 5mph at the time luckily, but was descending MonarchPass at 50mph shortly before.

Bottom Line:

Rode many tough tours and centuries and double centuries on crappy Cali roads. The chain stay broke climbing Ebett
s Pass going about 5mph on the DeathRide. It was about 3 months out of warranty and I couldn't find my receipt, and I had repainted a fragile original paint job. The shop was hesitant (American Cyclery SFO) so they ended up giving me wholesale price for a Soma Smoothie which has been a good all around bike. Rode the Cali Triple Crown on it, including the Terrible Two.

Strengths: Strong, just the right ballance of stiffness and flex for my 180lbs. Handles fearlessly on dirt and rides like a Caddy on pavement. Nice welds and paint, lots of braze ons for everything you could want to bolt on.

Weaknesses: A bit heavy for a cyclocrosser. I have heard some negatives but remain to be seen. Hard to adjust the front brakes so the forks won't hop and chatter.

Bottom Line:

I was looking for a bike that had the ability too handle the gravel roads and blacktop rural highways of central Maine for some time. Aluminum frames, even with some carbon to make them more shock absorbant still have a harsh ride, there bigest advantage being lightness. Ripping down gravel hills at 25+ mph she's as quiet as a mouse. the same 105 groupe that I have on my aluminium framed cross bike is on the DC and works flawlessly whereas it rattles itself out of adjustment on my other bike.
I like to ride with 'no hands' and this bike has the stability that I have craved since the old Raliegh days. I also have a Holdsworth Reynolds frame touring bike with a 42" wheelbase that isn't any better than the DC for straightline stability.
Frame stand over hieght is lower than on similar size cross bikes, the seat tube angle rakes back more than say, Redline or Kona. If you ride a 58 roadbike, you will ride a 56 Redline but you will still ride a 58 DC. I ride a 57cm road and my DC is a 58cm. The Geometry of the DC is more streched out lengthwise. The top tube is longer than the seat tube and with the rake of the seat tube it gives a nice comfortable upright (less agressive) posture. I think it's an ideal bike for long limbed people like myself but maybe not for more compact guys like the one I bought the bike from (not sure about that). Anyway, I love this bike

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